Flood-Hit Chinese Provinces Declare State of Emergency
China's Hubei and Anhui provinces along the Yangtze River, the country's longest river, have declared a state of emergency as of July 20 to prepare for worse flooding reinforced by heavy rains.
The decisions were made by the two provincial governments in accordance with China's Anti-Flood Law that took effect last year.
Under the law, local flood-control headquarters are empowered to make decisions during the emergency period on flood-related matters such as removing obstacles from roads and bridges, mobilizing materials, vehicles and laborers, and taking control of communications facilities.
According to sources with the local governments, the flood- control situation is becoming more and more serious as the water levels at some sections of the Yangtze have exceeded the danger lines for 20 days.
At 2 p.m. Monday, the water level at Yichang, a major city in Hubei, climbed to 52.87 meters, 1.19 m. higher than the previous day. The water level at Wuhan, capital of the province, hit 28.37 m., 0.25 m. higher than the previous day, and the water level at Anqing in Anhui reached 17.93 m., near the record high in 1983.
According to the Yangtze River Water Conservation Committee, the biggest flood peak of the season is expected to pass through Yichang today at a flow rate of 57,800 cubic meters per second, bringing the local water level to an estimated 53.3 m.. The peak is expected to hit Hankou in Wuhan on July 23.
A new round of torrential rains are now sweeping parts of Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan and Hubei provinces in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze, posing a growing threat of rampant flooding in the middle and lower reaches of the river.
Facing the threat, the provinces have stepped up efforts to guard against severe flooding and added flood-control materials in regions near the Yangtze.
In Hunan, another province in the middle reaches of the river, an emergency state was already imposed on July 17, and flood fighters are keeping watch on dikes and levees day and night. (Xinhua)
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